Engage were on Mexico Business News website this week with information about Aqualatus and its launched at Expo Agroalimentaria Mexico on the 14th to 17th November 2024. 

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Aqualatus, an innovative technology that reduces water use in agriculture, will be launched at Expo Agroalimentaria Mexico. Developed by British company Engage Crop Solutions, it promises to transform water management in Mexican agriculture, offering savings of up to 50% in water, electricity and fertilizer consumption, while improving crop yields.

“Agriculture accounts for more than three quarters of water consumption in Mexico, but Aqualatus could cut this figure in half,” commented Alberto Curiel, of Mi Granja San Agustin, a Mexican company collaborating with Engage Crop Solutions to bring this technology to Mexico.

Aqualatus is presented as a technological solution capable of addressing these challenges. The technology, based on a sophisticated blend of liquid polymers, is integrated into irrigation systems to improve water retention in all types of soil and creates a proper balance between air and water. According to Engage, this optimizes penetration, lateral movement and distribution of nutrients applied to the roots, improving irrigation efficiency and reducing the overall water requirement.

“Its regular use regroups soils, which promotes optimal conditions for crop development and provides long-term residual re-wetting in the root zones of any crop, reducing wastage and improving moisture availability to plants,” Engage Crop Solutions notes on its website.

Mexico’s Water Stress Outlook

Climate change and recurring droughts in Mexico have generated growing concern about the sustainability of the agricultural sector, which faces challenges due to the high consumption of water resources. In April 2024, according to the National Water Commission, more than 65% of the national territory faced some degree of drought, a situation that was aggravated by the high temperatures recorded in various regions of the country.

The Mexican Drought Monitor (MSM), from the National Meteorological Service, reported that by the end of April 2024, 79.4% of the country’s municipalities (a total of 1,963 out of 2,469) were affected by drought. Of these, 380 were experiencing extreme drought and 215 exceptional droughts, which implies significant crop and pasture losses, as well as exceptional fire risks and water shortages.

Mexican agriculture, according to the National Water Commission, accounts for more than 75% of the country’s water use, which places agricultural activity at the center of the debate on the management of this critical resource.

Aqualatus’ Release

Aqualatus’ launch will take place on Nov. 12-15 at Expo Agroalimentaria Mexico, one of the most important agricultural technology events in the world. This event is held in Guanajuato, one of the regions with the highest water stress levels, which underlines the relevance of the technology in a context of prolonged droughts.

According to Portal Frutícola, Aqualatus has proven to be effective in various agricultural environments around the world. In tests conducted over 10 years, the technology has been able to reduce water use by up to 65% in areas such as the Middle East, southern Europe and Africa, and has shown an increase in crop yields. In Mexico, according to Curiel, tests conducted by Mi Granja San Agustín have confirmed that farmers can drastically reduce water use and improve yields, which also translates into significant savings in fertilizer and energy.

Mi Granja San Agustín aims to expand the use of Aqualatus throughout the country to help farmers cope with rising production costs, especially for water-related inputs. “This technology is transforming agriculture in hot climates, providing substantial savings to farmers and improving their profitability and sustainability,” noted Mark Horner, Founder and Director, Engage Crop Solutions. “Aqualatus represents a key answer for Latin America, where farmers face the challenge of maintaining profitability while decreasing water use, an increasingly scarce resource.”